Dress Shopping? Here Are The 7 Top Mistakes We Make

Shopping for a new dress can be fun and exciting, but hitting the mall to find the perfect one for you isn’t always as easy as you think. In fact, it is an experience that can sometimes be pretty stressful, especially if you don’t prepare properly before you head out. Luckily, we’re here to help! Here are seven mistakes even the most style savvy dress shopper makes from time to time, and how you can avoid them:

Shopping Alone

If you’re shopping for a dress for a special occasion then be sure to take someone with you who can help you pick the right style for you, and steer you away from any fashion disasters. The best shopping partner is a trusted friend you know will give you an honest opinion without worrying too much about hurting your feelings. Top tip: Leave your boyfriend at home. He’ll probably be so keen for the trip to be finished, he’ll say you look good in anything!

Shopping without a Budget

Many enthusiastic shoppers make the mistake of not setting a budget before they head to the store, which can lead to the heart-breaking situation of falling in love with a dress you just can’t afford. If you fall in love with a dress outside of your budget then don’t break the bank (or spend next month’s rent money) to buy it: shop around to see if you can find the same dress at a lower price by looking in discount or consignment stores or by using daily deal sites, such as Jane.com, who have a dress boutique where discounts on key fashion pieces can be as much as 70%. If you’re prepared to put in a little effort, there’s often a great deal to be had!

Forgetting about Accessories

You’ve just fallen in love with a beautiful emerald green dress and it’s within your budget: but do you have shoes, a purse, and other important accessories to match it at home? Many shoppers often forget to ensure they have accessories that will coordinate with the dress they pick, which could leave you with a dress you can’t wear, or having to embark on another expensive shopping trip so you can pull your outfit together.

Not Taking a Break

If you’re enjoying a long day of shopping then it’s important to break up your day with regular breaks for coffee and a rest. Questionable sartorial decisions are often made when you’re tired or hungry, so make sure you keep refuelling if you want to shop all day without making any fashion mistakes!

Walking Past the Fitting Room

You may well think that, because you are a size 8, you don’t need to try on that size 8 dress to know it will fit you. That would be a terrible fashion mistake! Sizing can vary wildly from store to store, particularly amongst designer brands, and the only way to be really sure that you love the dress you choose it to try it on, look in the mirror, and think about how the dress makes you look and feel. It will add time to your shopping trip, but it will be totally worth it!

Not Thinking About Your Underwear

The way a dress fits will depend on the underwear you are wearing, so make sure you put on the right set before you head to the mall! If you’re looking for a strapless dress then wear your strapless bra, and if you’re worried about any wobbling bits then Spanx or other well-fitting support garments can be a godsend. Having a great base layer will help the dresses you try on fit more smoothly.

Going Without Make Up